iv 



PREFACE. 



firmation. Observations made in the country irresistibly suggested 

 to him, that a people, possessing a fair portion of the natural 

 endowments, and by no means deficient in energy of character, 

 although borne down and kept in utter ignorance by their op- 

 pressive, yet indolent task-masters, wanted but the fostering 

 hand of a free, enlightened and enterprising European nation, to 

 raise them to that rank, which in every political point of view, 

 their situation so well entitled them to enjoy. Possessing a 

 soil inexhaustible in the precious metals, which are the means of 

 wealth, and fruitful to abundance, in all the generous products 

 of the earth, the knowledge imparted by modern science was 

 alone wanting to turn those blessings to the uses for which a 

 bountiful Providence doubtless designed them. That Britain 

 might be such protecting power, this traveller never ceased to 

 hope, nor has he ever ceased to employ zealously those means, 

 which circumstances placed in his humble power, to forward 

 an object, which he deemed to be mutually conducive to the hap- 

 piness of both nations. The ardour and enterprise of the British 

 merchant are as pre-eminent as are his honour and good faith in 

 business transactions, and the skill of our artizans, manufacturers 

 and agriculturists, is as firmly established as are their industry 

 and general good conduct. Fortunately, the liberal policy of our 

 government has at length identified itself with the wishes of the 

 people, while a correspondent sentiment, no less universal, per- 

 vades both the rulers and people of that " New World," which 

 is now opening to Englishmen sources of wealth and honour un- 

 equalled at any former era in the commercial annals of their 

 country. - .. r 



The , descriptions in this Catalogue are necessarily brief, but 

 fuller particulars maybe obtained from Mr. Bullock's "Travels 

 in Mexico," a new edition of which will shortly be published 

 by Mr. Murray. 



